Burgers, chips (fries), nuggets, hot dogs, pizza. On it goes. It’s everywhere and most of our kids want it. The good news is that we can let them have fast food – yes, fast food can be healthy. It just needs a little work from you…

My ebook Oh No, A Vegetarian! What Am I Supposed To Cook? has chapters dedicated to this very thing.

Recipes, anecdotes and honest information on how to cook for a veg*n, how to help transition into a healthier lifestyle, famous veg*ns and everything from healthy gourmet to fast food.

You name it, you can make an alternative that they will love. Try this one – burgers. No fat or carcinogenic waste food in sight. And your kids would never know the difference –

LENTIL PATTIES –

Being a lentil burger fan from a young age resulted in a ton of Neil/Nigel (Young Ones) jokes over the years. Even the ones I made up in bulk to sell at Stumpy’s Roadhouse (Brookton) that ended up attracting Perth visitors on weekends who’d do the reverse trip us kids used to do, (in order to get Perth fast foods) didn’t prove to most of my friends that lentils are magic. Sadly most would just make fun and pass on my offers. No mind, more for me!

But nothing compares to THIS recipe. It can be used for everything and is ‘almost’ a raw patty (okay, no debates here on what technically makes a raw meal but you’ll see eventually) – in place of meatballs, burger patties, chicken nuggets – you name it – just change the shapes and kids of all ages will be happy.

Soak lentils in double the amount water overnight (don’t let the lentils dry out – keep well covered with water so they wont need excessive cooking…

Drain lentils next morning and allow to continue to ‘sprout’ (ie develop and release nutrients/enzymes otherwise locked away) – in a sealed jar in the fridge. About 1 hour before cooking, add all the other ingredients, then bind with a little more water only as needed (better to be drier than too watered down). Consistency needs to be the same as a regular patty mix.

Form into patties, balls or cutlets, roll in a bit of gluten free flour to which a few spoons of sesame seeds have been added and shallow fry until golden (not too cooked, doesn’t need it).

These get eaten as I am cooking them so few end up on the dinner plate but I try and make double so the kids can have them for salads (school) and I can freeze some to make pasta next. Last time I made them, we only managed to save a few – yes, they really are that good and smell as good as they taste. Warning – if you let the kids take a taste test, there wont be any left by dinner time… True story!

My ebook has much more – many more recipes that I am yet to see a child of any age turn down.

A combination of health tips, facts, a little fun and a lot of time-proven recipes. And it doesn’t matter what age you are or what your cookery skills are. These recipes will have you cooking like a pro – from the aforementioned fast food to gourmet delights for a wedding feast.

What about chips? That’s an easy one and something we have easily every weekend. Just scrub some potatoes (do not peel unless you need to remove a few bad spots), peel some sweet potatoes and butternut pumpkin. You can also go rainbow and do the same with a few beetroots and a mix of carrots – purple, orange, etc. Swedes are another amazing option. Cut into chips or cubes – or curly fries – toss in a large tub to which a mix of olive oil to which Himalayan salt, mixed herbs, powdered/ground garlic, paprika, turmeric and garam masala have been added. Shake well and place in a layer on a large baking tray and bake in a hot oven until golden. Alternatively, cook in a dry fryer. For a sauce, try these options –

But much more in my OH NO! ebook. And best of all, it’s not written by an everyday chef or celebrity cook with no background in health or vegetarian cookery. The author has an almost lifelong history of health care, organic farming and gardening, vegetarian and vegan cooking – a rarity in today’s glut of TV cooks who almost get it right and knock themselves out trying to prove what is healthy and with comments like ‘yes, it really does taste good’ – as if they are trying to talk themselves into eating their own food!

This ebook is the result of years of friends, patients and guests asking for copies of these recipes which combine health, cruelty free living, fantastic taste and even a little celebrity tips as to just who is a famous veg*n. One recipe will pay for the book – just imagine, you will have this one for life!